Circa ‘21’s “Million Dollar Quartet” is a million dollar show. It’s expertly presented, from the set to the costumes to the casting to the sound, capturing a fascinating and colorful moment in time in the history of rock ‘n’ roll and doing so with such great energy and reverence that it earned a well-deserved standing ovation at its opening show. “Million Dollar” is inspired by the famed recording session that brought together rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins for the first and only time on Dec. 4, 1956. On that date,... Read More

For the final production in its 39th season, Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is rolling out the Tony Award-winning Broadway smash “Million Dollar Quartet,” running this weekend through November 5. A celebration of four of history’s most legendary recording artists  – Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins – this long-requested title is finally making its area debut at the Rock Island  dinner theatre, and will be brought to life by a marvelous cast of professional talents. “Million” will be performed at Circa ’21 on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturdays... Read More

To say Rock Island made a colossal error in wasting $15 million to woo Walmart to 11th Street is a stunning understatement. But what’s perhaps saddest and most pathetic about it is its irony. Rock Island, like thousands of other cities across the country, will, at least once a year, pay lip service and throw promotional money at “small business weeks” and hollow pitches to “shop local.” City officials should’ve heeded their own advice in this matter. Aside from the property owners who were able to hit a stunning jackpot on selling their failed and crumbling 11th Street businesses at... Read More

Tristan Tapscott has always welcomed new creative ventures into his life, and with last week’s closing of District Theater after nine seasons, the former artistic director of that venue is sentimental about the past and proud of his accomplishments at that bastion while looking forward to the future. Recently, Tapscott sat down to talk about the District Theater, his performing and producing career, upcoming paths and more. Q: What was it like when you closed the theater? A: It was a very surreal moment for me. I spent the last nine years sacrificing everything for that place. I can’t yet... Read More

The city of Rock Island needs to stop pining like John Cusack lofting a sad boom box of tax incentives outside the window of the richest people in America and instead turn that attention to where their music could really be heard and appreciated – ringing through the streets of its downtown. For months, Rock Island has been panting after a Walmart location on 11th Street, and as most cities do, they have thrown a boatload of incentives at the owners of the chain, the Walton family, who need it about as much as Scrooge McDuck needs another bed of gold bars. Listen, I get it, guys. Walmart is a... Read More

District Theater’s “Behanding in Spokane” is an absolute joy to experience, a dark, wonderful array of literary and theatrical twists and turns that’s exhilarating and fun. I very highly recommend it. Martin McDonagh is one of the most original voices in theater to emerge over the last 15 years. The closest comparison overall is Quentin Tarantino, in that McDonagh has a brilliant talent for dark, often violently dark, comedy and breaking barriers in regard to aggressive language in a way that’s both primal and intellectual. McDonagh’s closest comparison  stage-wise is David Mamet,... Read More

The latest sketch comedy show in the Quad-Cities, “The Lunchbox: Live,” opens up its bag of goodies this weekend, offering short hits of comedic takes on various subjects from superheroes to politics to vaping – although perhaps all three could be included in one sketch if you see Hillary in a cape dipping to vape. You never know. You’ll have to show up to find out! “The Lunchbox: Live,” was created by local actor and comedian Anthony Natarelli. Natarelli has been a regular on The District Theatre and Speakeasy stages. He was last seen there as the transgender rocker, Hedwig, in “Hedwig... Read More

Their last offering may have offered a Woolf, but this one’s going to really have some sharp teeth. After rolling out a well-executed and stylish take on a classic, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, the District Theater is offering a local debut by a notoriously darkly hilarious theatrical genius. “A Behanding in Spokane,” offered next up by the Rock Island hot spot from May 13-21 is by the award-winning Irish playwright Martin McDonagh, author of such masterworks as “The Pillowman,” which the District did a fantastic job producing, and “In Bruges,” which was made into a successful... Read More

It’s not often I say a performer steals a show in an ensemble piece, but I feel confident in saying that Tom Walljasper definitely steals the show in “Shear Madness.” Walljasper is so flamboyant and over-the-top funny, grabbing every scene he’s in with some brazen move or line, that it’s impossible to ignore him, not that you’d want to. “Shear” is a very funny, entertaining show. It was on the night I saw it. On the night you see it, it might be even funnier. I say that because it changes from night to night. Not just in the nuances, but in the big strokes. “Shear” is a malleable... Read More

We begin. Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse. Quad City Music Guild. Playcrafters Barn Theatre. QC Theatre Workshop. New Ground Theatre. Prenzie Players. Genesius Guild. Center for Living. Richmond Hill Players. Opera Quad Cities. Ballet Quad Cities. Bottoms Up Burlesque. Countryside Community Theatre. The After Hour. Circa ’21 Speakeasy. The Blacklist. Backroom Comedy Theatre. My Verona Productions. Comedy Sportz. Establishment Theatre. Curtainbox Theatre Company. The District Theatre. …and on and on and on… To quote one of the most brilliant musicals of all time, Hamilton, “Look... Read More